Some opportunities happen only once in a lifetime - like a job where you have the chance to change lives. At Alexion, people living with rare and devastating diseases are our Guiding Star. We are driven to continuously innovate and create meaningful value in all we do to help patients and families fully live their best lives. We value the uniqueness and diversity of our employees and recognize that nurturing the diverse perspectives and strengths of our people translates into innovative breakthroughs for patients.

This is what you will do:

Immunogenicity Sciences (IS) co-op will be an enthusiastic, adaptable resource for the team and will perform investigative literature search, assessment and build strategies on critical questions associated with drug development in the fields of gene therapy, immunogenicity of biologics and related methodologies. The individual will extract and synthesize information from published research literature, regulatory guidelines and other sources. The synthesized information will need to be documented & presented in the form of reports and/or PowerPoint presentations. The effort will directly contribute to the accumulating knowledge base in these fields in the CD&RS department. This position will also work under the guidance of senior staff members to strategize and design research that could enable increasing the predictive value in the process of immunogenicity risk assessment of gene therapy and related modalities.

You will be responsible for:

• Co-leading projects aimed at performing immunogenicity risk assessment of biologics (including but not limited to gene therapy vectors) by designing objectives, writing protocols and defining endpoints.
• Assisting in the composition of sections of grants to procure internal funding within ALXN organization to design & execute cutting edge research to answer fundamental questions in the field of immunogenicity.
• Performing research literature surveys to identify progress and gaps in the field of gene therapy in order to propose effective immunogenicity risk mitigation strategies in a timely manner. Contingent on the results may play a critical role in authoring impactful publication(s) in the field of immunogenicity risks of gene therapy and/or other modalities.
• Generating illustrations, figures and videos to be used in publications, internal newsletters, posters and Co-Op project conclusion.
• Participating in meetings and demonstrating clear communication skills by effective speaking, proactively engaging in conversations, providing feedback and asking pertinent questions.

You will need to have:

• MS in Molecular Biology, Immunology, Life Sciences or related disciplines. Ideal candidate will be enrolled in a Ph.D. program in molecular biology, immunology or related disciplines.

• At least 1 year of hands-on experience in performing basic molecular biology and immunology related experiments such as designing primers, cloning, qPCR, ELISA and flow cytometry.
• Experienced in presenting at journal clubs or literature seminars, excellent time management, planning and organizational skills, including the ability to multi-task.
• The duties of this role are generally conducted in an office environment. As is typical of an office-based role, employees must be able, with or without an accommodation to: use a computer; engage in communications via phone, video, and electronic messaging; engage in problem solving and non-linear thought, analysis, and dialogue; collaborate with others; maintain general availability during standard business hours.

We prefer you also have:

• Good understanding of molecular biology and immunology concepts and a keen interest in current developments in cell and gene therapeutics.
• Experience in using UCSC genome browser or similar, performing BLAST searches and using Ensembl. Experience in reading and/or analyzing RNAseq data is a plus.
• Practical knowledge of protein-DNA interactions and well versed in biochemical assays such as immunoprecipitations, western blots etc.

• Experience in Graphpad Prism, Corel Draw/Adobe Illustrator or similar editing applications.

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Alexion is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on serving patients and families affected by rare diseases and devastating conditions through the discovery, development and commercialization of life-changing medicines. Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, Alexion has offices around the globe and serves patients in more than 50 countries. Further information about Alexion can be found at: www.alexion.com.

Alexion is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We are committed to fostering a culture of belonging where every single person can belong because of their uniqueness. The Company will not make decisions about employment, training, compensation, promotion, and other terms and conditions of employment based on race, color, religion, creed or lack thereof, sex, sexual orientation, age, ancestry, national origin, ethnicity, citizenship status, marital status, pregnancy, (including childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), parental status (including adoption or surrogacy), military status, protected veteran status, disability, medical condition, gender identity or expression, genetic information, mental illness or other characteristics protected by law. Alexion has taken critical steps to protect colleagues, loved ones, and patients from COVID-19 and its variants. All US-based employees must comply with Alexion's COVID-19 vaccination mandate. Alexion provides exceptions based on applicable state law as well as reasonable accommodations to meet the needs of candidates and employees. To begin an interactive dialogue with Alexion regarding a legally required exemption or accommodation, please contact accommodations@Alexion.com. Alexion participates in E-Verify.

As a leading employer in our industry, Alexion offers a highly competitive package of base and incentive compensation as well as a comprehensive benefits program designed to support the health, wellness and financial security of our employees and their families. Benefits include group medical, vision and dental coverage, group and supplemental life insurance, 401(k) with company match, tuition reimbursement, and much more.

AstraZeneca completed its acquisition of Alexion, marking the creation of Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease. If you're interested in career opportunities with AstraZeneca, click here.